Retractable truck mirror

ABSTRACT

A truck mirror comprising a U-shaped support on which a mirror is pivotally mounted. The ends of arms of the support are pivoted to vertically spaced brackets that are adapted to be mounted on the truck. Pivot means are provided between the ends of the support arms and the brackets and comprise two members of low friction material. One of the members has axially extending circumferentially spaced grooves therein and the other of the members has complementary projections. The members are yieldingly urged toward one another such that the mirror is held in angularly adjusted position but may be readily moved to a new angular position by manual manipulation.

1 ll 131.1111 States Patent [191 [111 3,784,149 Brudy Jan. 8, 1974 [54]RETRACTABLE TRUCK MIRROR 3,360,296 l2/l967 Hatch 248/289 X [75]Inventor: g g g gi g Primary ExaminerWilliam H. Schultz AttorneyArthurRaisch et al. [73] Assignee: Dominion Auto Accessories Limited,

Ontario, Canada [57] ABSTRACT 22 Fil Jam 3 972 A truck mirror comprisinga U-shaped support on which a mirror is pivotally mounted. The ends ofarms [21] Appl' 214594 of the support are pivoted to vertically spacedbrackets that are adapted to be mounted on the truck. Pivot 52 us. Cl.248/478, 287/14 means are Provided between the ends of the support ,[51]Int. Cl. B60r 1/06 arms and the brackets and comprise two members of[58] Field of-Search 248/282, 285, 289, low friction materialone Of themembers has axially 248/475 13 477 47 479; 2 7 14 extendingcircumferentially spaced grooves therein and the other of the membershas complementary pro- 5 References Cited jections. The members areyieldingly urged toward UNITED'STAT'ES PATENTS one another such that themirror is held in angularly adjusted position but may be readily movedto a new 3%?323? $5132; m:%;,-,;ia;:-------------;;;;;.%f*2:82;; by3,346,229 10/1967 Carson 248/477 18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1RETRACTABLE TRUCK MIRROR This invention relates to truck mirrors andparticularly to adjustable truck mirrors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In truck mirrors, which are required by lawin many governmental jurisdictions, it is common and desirable toprovide for initial adjustment of the mirror to accommodate the driverand at the same time to provide a construction wherein the mirror can bereadily retracted or moved out of its projected position for clearanceand thereafter readily moved back to its adjusted position without theuse of tools. Various designs have been heretofore proposed whichrequire complicated constructions. Another problem with respect to thesuch constructions has been that of corrosion after prolonged use.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a novel truckmirror construction wherein the angular position of the mirror can bereadily adjusted, changed for clearance and returned to its originalposition without the use of tools and wherein corrosion is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A truck mirror comprising a U-shaped support onwhich a mirror is pivotally mounted. The ends of the arms of the supportare pivoted to vertically spaced brackets that are adapted to be mountedon the truck. Pivot means are provided between the ends of the supportarms and the brackets and comprise two members of low friction material.One of the members has axially extending circumferentially spacedgrooves therein and the other of the members has complementaryprojections. The members are yieldingly urged'toward one another suchthat the mirror is held in angularly adjusted position but may bereadily moved to a new angular position by manual manipulation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view ofa truck mirror construction embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of a portion of the mirror.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view of a further portion of themirror.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG.4.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the mirror construction embodying theinvention is adapted to be mounted on a door or other portion of a truckor similar vehicle and comprises an elongated mirror housing 11 which ispivotally supported at its ends .on a U-shaped support 12 comprisingspaced arms 13 connected by vertical portion 14. Brackets 15 are fixedat vertically spaced points on the door 10. Each bracket comprises abase 16 and angula'rly related legs 17 that have flattened ends 18 thatoverlap one another. The ends of the arms 13 are flattened as at 19.

Pivot means 20 are provided between the bracket arms 17, 18 and thesupport arms 13 at each bracket or at only one bracket.

' that are complementary to the grooves 24 and have axes inclined withrespect to the axis of the member 22. The configuration of the grooves24 and projections 26 is generally U-shaped but is such that when thegrooves and projections are in engagement as presently described, theapex of each projection 26 is spaced from the base of each groove 24(FIGS. 4 and 5). Pivot member 21 is formed with axially extendingprojections 27 which extend into opening 28 in the flattened portion 19of arm 13. Similarly, pivot member 22 is formed with projections 29 thatextend into recesses 30 of the flattened portion 18 of the leg 17. Abolt 31 having a head 32 extends through openings 33, 34, 35, 36 and anut 37 is threaded on the end of the bolt 31. A washer 38 is interposedbetween leg 17 and nut 37. A compression spring 39 is interposed betweenthe head 32 and the flattened portion 19 of arm 13 thereby providing acompressive force such that the pivot members 21, 22 are urged axiallytoward one another.

When assembled, the manual manipulation of the support 12 causes thepivot member 21 to be rotated angularly with respect to the supportmember 22. During this movement, axial compression of the spring 39 isachieved so that grooves 24 move successively into engagement withprojections 26. When it is desired to re-adjust the mirror for clearanceor for use by drivers of different physical proportions, the support 12is again grasped to move the mirror to the desired position. In anyposition, the mirror is firmly held in its adjusted position.

The pivot members 21, 22 are preferably made of a low friction materialsuch as organic plastic. A satisfactory material comprises nylon.

I claim:

1. In a mirror support, the combination comprising a mirror,

a support on which said mirror is mounted,

a bracket,

pivot means for mounting said support on said bracket,

said pivot means comprising a first pivot member of low friction plasticmaterial fixed against rotational movement on said support,

a second pivot member of low friction plastic material fixed againstrotational movement on said bracket,

one of said pivot members having a plurality of circumferentially spacedgenerally axially extending grooves therein,

the other of said pivot members having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced axially extending generally complementary projections thereon,

each of said grooves and said projections having an axis inclined to theaxis of the respective members,

and means yieldingly urging one of said pivot members toward the otherwhereby said support and, in turn, said mirror is held in angularlyrelated fashion with respect to said bracket but may be yieldingly movedto a new angularly related position by grasping said support and movingit angularly with respect to said bracket to cause said projections tomove axially and circumferentially into engagement with others ofsaid'grooves,

said one pivot member having axially extending circumferentially spacedgrooves therein being generally annular and having an axially extendingrecess, the wall of which is formed with said grooves,

the other said pivot member being generally frustoconical and havingsaid projections thereon.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said groove has agenerally U-shaped configuration,

each said projection having a generally complementary configuration.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the configurations ofeach said projection and groove are such that when each said projectionis in engagement with a groove the apex of each said projection isspaced from the base of the groove.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means yieldinglyurging said pivot members toward one another comprises an axiallyextending member extending through said members,

said axially extending member having enlarged means on the ends thereof,

and a spring interposed between one of said enlarged means and arespective member to yieldingly urge said member toward the other saidmember.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said axially extendingmember comprises a bolt,

said enlarged means comprising a head on said bolt and a nut threaded onsaid bolt.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said pivot memberincludes locating projections thereon,

said support and said bracket having complementary recesses into whichsaid locating projections extend to circumferentially locate said pivotmembers with respect thereto.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 where each saidsupport andbracket has a flattened portion against which the respective pivotmember is positioned.

8. In a mirror support, the combination comprising a mirror,

a support comprising spaced support arms connected by an intermediateportion,

said mirror being mounted on said support arms,

brackets comprising spaced legs,

pivot means pivoting said support arms on said legs,

at least one of said pivot means comprising a first pivot member of lowfriction plastic material fixed against rotational movement on saidsupport arm,

a second pivot member oflow frictional plastic material fixed againstrotational movement on said bracket,

one of said pivot members having an annular wall with an inner surfaceformed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally axiallyextending grooves therein,

the other of said pivot members being generally frusto-conical andhaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extendinggenerally complementary projections on the periphery thereof thereon,

each of said grooves and said projections having an axis inclined to theaxis of the respective members, and means yieldingly urging said memberstoward one another whereby said support arm, and in turn, said mirror isheld in angularly related fashion with respect to said bracket but maybe yieldingly moved to a new angularly related position by grasping saidsupport and moving it angularly with respect to said bracket to causesaid projections to move axially and circumferentially into engagementwith others of said grooves.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein each said groove has agenerally U-shaped configuration,

each said projection having a generally complementary configuration.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein the configurations ofeach said projection and groove are such that when the projections arein engagement with the grooves the apex of each said projection isspaced from the base of the groove.

11. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said means yieldinglyurging said pivot members toward one another comprises an axiallyextending member extending through said members,

said member having enlarged means on the ends thereof,

and a spring interposed between one of said enlarged means and arespective member to yieldingly urge said member toward the other saidmember.

12. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said axially extendingmember comprises a bolt,

said enlarged means comprising a head on said bolt and a nut threaded onsaid bolt.

13. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein each said member has abase wall with locating projections thereon,

said support arm and said leg of said bracket having a flattened portionhaving complementary recesses into which said locating projectionsextend to circumferentially locate said members with respect thereto.

14. The combination comprising pivot means comprising a first pivotmember of low friction plastic material,

a second pivot member of low friction plastic material,

one of said pivot members having a plurality of circumferentially spacedgenerally axially extending grooves therein,

the other of said pivot members having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced axially extending generally complementary projections thereon,each of said grooves and said projections having an axis inclined to theaxis of the respective members,

and means yieldingly urging one of said pivot members toward the otherwhereby pivot members are held in angularly related fashion to oneanother but may be yieldingly moved to a new angularly related positionby moving one angularly with respect to the other to cause saidprojections to move axially and circumferentially into engagement withothers of said grooves,

said one pivot member having axially extending circumferentiallyextending grooves therein having a generally annular wall with afrusto-conical inner surface in which said grooves are formed,

17. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said means yieldinglyurging said pivot members toward one another comprises an axiallyextending member extending through said members,

said member having enlarged means on the ends thereof,

and a spring interposed between one of said means and a respective pivotmember to yieldingly urge said member toward the other said member.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said axial membercomprises a bolt,

said enlarged means comprising a head on said bolt and nut threaded onsaid bolt.

1. In a mirror support, the combination comprising a mirror, a supporton which said mirror is mounted, a bracket, pivot means for mountingsaid support on said bracket, said pivot means comprising a first pivotmember of low friction plastic material fixed against rotationalmovement on said support, a second pivot member of low friction plasticmaterial fixed against rotational movement on said bracket, one of saidpivot members having a plurality of circumferentially spaced generallyaxially extending grooves therein, the other of said pivot membershaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extendinggenerally complementary projections thereon, each of said grooves andsaid projections having an axis inclined to the axis of the respectivemembers, and means yieldingly urging one of said pivot members towardthe other whereby said support and, in turn, said mirror is held inangularly related fashion with respect to said bracket but may beyieldingly moved to a new angularly related position by grasping saidsupport and moving it angularly with respect to said bracket to causesaid projections to move axially and circumferentially into engagementwith others of said grooves, said one pivot member having axiallyextending circumferentially spaced grooves therein being generallyannular and having an axially extending recess, the wall of which isformed with said grooves, the other said pivot member being generallyfrusto-conical and having said projections thereon.
 2. The combinationset forth in claim 1 wherein each said groove has a generally U-shapedconfiguration, each said projection having A generally complementaryconfiguration.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein theconfigurations of each said projection and groove are such that wheneach said projection is in engagement with a groove the apex of eachsaid projection is spaced from the base of the groove.
 4. Thecombination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means yieldingly urgingsaid pivot members toward one another comprises an axially extendingmember extending through said members, said axially extending memberhaving enlarged means on the ends thereof, and a spring interposedbetween one of said enlarged means and a respective member to yieldinglyurge said member toward the other said member.
 5. The combination setforth in claim 4 wherein said axially extending member comprises a bolt,said enlarged means comprising a head on said bolt and a nut threaded onsaid bolt.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each saidpivot member includes locating projections thereon, said support andsaid bracket having complementary recesses into which said locatingprojections extend to circumferentially locate said pivot members withrespect thereto.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 1 where each saidsupport and bracket has a flattened portion against which the respectivepivot member is positioned.
 8. In a mirror support, the combinationcomprising a mirror, a support comprising spaced support arms connectedby an intermediate portion, said mirror being mounted on said supportarms, brackets comprising spaced legs, pivot means pivoting said supportarms on said legs, at least one of said pivot means comprising a firstpivot member of low friction plastic material fixed against rotationalmovement on said support arm, a second pivot member of low frictionalplastic material fixed against rotational movement on said bracket, oneof said pivot members having an annular wall with an inner surfaceformed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally axiallyextending grooves therein, the other of said pivot members beinggenerally frusto-conical and having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced axially extending generally complementary projections on theperiphery thereof thereon, each of said grooves and said projectionshaving an axis inclined to the axis of the respective members, and meansyieldingly urging said members toward one another whereby said supportarm, and in turn, said mirror is held in angularly related fashion withrespect to said bracket but may be yieldingly moved to a new angularlyrelated position by grasping said support and moving it angularly withrespect to said bracket to cause said projections to move axially andcircumferentially into engagement with others of said grooves.
 9. Thecombination set forth in claim 8 wherein each said groove has agenerally U-shaped configuration, each said projection having agenerally complementary configuration.
 10. The combination set forth inclaim 9 wherein the configurations of each said projection and grooveare such that when the projections are in engagement with the groovesthe apex of each said projection is spaced from the base of the groove.11. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said means yieldinglyurging said pivot members toward one another comprises an axiallyextending member extending through said members, said member havingenlarged means on the ends thereof, and a spring interposed between oneof said enlarged means and a respective member to yieldingly urge saidmember toward the other said member.
 12. The combination set forth inclaim 8 wherein said axially extending member comprises a bolt, saidenlarged means comprising a head on said bolt and a nut threaded on saidbolt.
 13. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein each said memberhas a base wall with locating projections thereon, said support arm andsaid leg of said bracket having a flattened porTion having complementaryrecesses into which said locating projections extend tocircumferentially locate said members with respect thereto.
 14. Thecombination comprising pivot means comprising a first pivot member oflow friction plastic material, a second pivot member of low frictionplastic material, one of said pivot members having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced generally axially extending grooves therein,the other of said pivot members having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced axially extending generally complementary projections thereon,each of said grooves and said projections having an axis inclined to theaxis of the respective members, and means yieldingly urging one of saidpivot members toward the other whereby pivot members are held inangularly related fashion to one another but may be yieldingly moved toa new angularly related position by moving one angularly with respect tothe other to cause said projections to move axially andcircumferentially into engagement with others of said grooves, said onepivot member having axially extending circumferentially extendinggrooves therein having a generally annular wall with a frusto-conicalinner surface in which said grooves are formed, the other said pivotmember being generally frusto-conical and having said projections on theperiphery thereof.
 15. The combination set forth in claim 14 whereineach said groove has a generally U-shaped configuration, each saidprojection having a generally complementary configuration.
 16. Thecombination set forth in claim 14 wherein the configurations of eachsaid projection and groove are such that when said projections are inengagement with said grooves the apex of each said projection when inengagement with its respective groove is spaced from the base of thegroove.
 17. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said meansyieldingly urging said pivot members toward one another comprises anaxially extending member extending through said members, said memberhaving enlarged means on the ends thereof, and a spring interposedbetween one of said means and a respective pivot member to yieldinglyurge said member toward the other said member.
 18. The combination setforth in claim 17 wherein said axial member comprises a bolt, saidenlarged means comprising a head on said bolt and nut threaded on saidbolt.